BEAUFORT: A store selling agricultural equipment, fertilisers and pesticides in Beaufort Jaya was 50 per cent destroyed by fire on Wednesday evening.
District Fire and Rescue Department Chief, Muhammad Hasbullah Nenggok, said the fire broke out around 7.20pm.
Three fire engines, including an FRT (Scania), an EMRS and a Toyota Vigo, were dispatched with 19 personnel to the scene. Upon arrival, they found the premises locked.
“The fire department had to force open both the front and back doors using lock-opening tools to enter the building,” said Hasbullah.
As soon as the doors were opened, an explosion occurred inside, but fortunately, the firefighters managed to escape from the blast.
The team used one water hose split into two streams to tackle the fire from both the front and back entrances.
“Several firefighters had to wear breathing apparatus to navigate through the thick smoke-filled building. Extra caution was required since the premises also dealt with chemicals, in addition to agricultural products,” he said.
The fire was brought under control around 8.35pm and the operation ended at 11.09pm with no casualties reported.
The building sustained significant damage, and the cause of the fire, as well as the losses are still under investigation.
